TSH test

[meme0000]

My TSH level was 7.86. I was then sent for a  t3 and t4 test the following week.  I received a letter saying that the t3 and t4 were within normal range.  I seem to have all the physical symptoms of hypo.  I did not hear personally from my doctor's office (my gynocologist sent me for test).  Do I just wait til next year for my regular appointment to discuss this with him, or what?  My mother had her thyroid removed when she was 21 and I have 2 sisters and a brother who take thyroid medicine.  I just don't know what to do.  


This discussion is related to High TSH,Normal T4 T3.

[gimel]

What were the actual numbers on T3and T4?  Your TSH is definitely not normal and you should get Free T4 and Free T3 tests done as well.  I think you should have another appointment right away and push the doctor to do further testing and also recognize that your TSH results are above even the old range of .5-5.0, and is way above the new range of .3-3.0.  I'm not optimistic that your doctor is going to react positively to all this, so you may as well start looking for a good thyroid doctor.

[gimel]

I looked around for  a site that clearly spells out why I gave you the info above.  I think you will find this very worthwhile.

http://www.mercola.com/article/hypothyroid/diagnosis_comp.htm

[meme0000]

Thanks so much for the website and the boost of confidence I needed to make the call to my doctor to at least get a copy of my results so that I know the range.  Is a T3 and T4 test different from "Free" T4 and "Free" T3?  See, I know very little about any of this stuff.   Thanks

[gimel]

The most common tests run by doctors are total T3 and Total T4, along with TSH.  A much clearer picture of your thyroid condition can be determined by testing for free T4 and especially free T34.  Here's a bit about the difference between total and free T3.

"Triiodothyronine (T3) is a thyroid hormone that circulates in blood almost completely bound (]99.5%) to carrier proteins. The main transport protein is thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG). However, only the free (unbound) portion of triiodothyronine (free T3) is believed to be responsible for the biological action. "

So it is much more useful to know about free T3, because that is what affects your body the most.  

[gimel]

Sorry about the typo.  It should read---- A much clearer picture of your thyroid condition can be determined by testing for free T4 and especially free T3.